Chapter 907 – The Price of Innocence

000

As I adapt to my changed body, I make my way through the bushes and forests.

What gave direction was the wave of magic that Lila and Cleon felt.

A sensation like a huge vortex of magical energy concentrated on one side.

I was worried that there might be dangerous creatures that only live in Fairy Village along the way, but fortunately I didn’t encounter anything like that and arrived at my first destination.

The problem must have been the condition of the destination.

＂Wow…＂

Amelia (Cleon) unconsciously opened her mouth and let out an exclamation.

Coming here, Lila thought that there must be a village since the magic she felt was that of a group of fairies, but even though it was a village, it was a little different from what the party had thought.

It was completely different from a human village where there were buildings and people gathered together to live their daily lives.

The sound of singing that is bright enough to be noisy, the sound of laughter resonating continuously.

Magical fireworks exploding in the sky over and over again, and moonlight as bright as the sunlight.

Centered around a huge tent built in the forest, several small tents were pitched around it, and cages that seemed to contain demonic beasts were placed here and there.

And between the tent and us, countless fairies were flying, walking around, laughing, talking, singing, and having fun.

＂This is… A circus? It’s bigger than any circus I’ve ever seen…”

When Cleon mumbled like that, Lila tried to cross her arms, but since she couldn’t, she slowly lowered her arms and nodded.

“It seems so… It’s a circus of fairies who like to play and have fun, so maybe it’s this big?”

“There are quite a few fairies… I don’t think their size is that different from humans.”

Sasha spoke as if she was a little surprised, and Kuon turned her head to see all the fairies passing by as if they were curious.

“Everyone has smiles on their faces… They look happy.”

＂What? Because the words worry and worry do not suit fairies. To them, I just hope that they will continue to be the embodiment of pure nature.”

If this is not done, the balance of nature is broken, and a considerable price is required to restore the broken balance.

Just like the dryad was worried about.

＂Gya, gyaeuugh…＂

Cleon’s body – that is, Vivre, who was hanging on Amelia’s back – looked at the fairy circus unfolding before his eyes and made a disapproving voice, covering his ears with his short front legs and closing his eyes.

I still felt like my head was full of voices that hated this space, so I couldn’t ask why.

“… Hey, can’t we just release it around here?”

When Lila says something like that, Kuon talks while looking at Lila.

“Of course! I hate it so much!”

“Ha… I guess that’s true. Well, it can’t be helped. I can’t let the cursed guy go as I want and end up getting resented by the fairies.”

In a way, it’s Lila shrugging her shoulders while saying the obvious.

Cleon takes a step forward, looks back at the group, and speaks.

“Anyway, let’s gather information from the fairies of this circus troupe. You might be able to hear about Nagi in other places, maybe.”

＂On the way here, there were no traces that seemed to belong to Mr. Nagi… Are you okay?＂

When Sasha asked that question, she knew no one could answer her question with certainty.

I just hope it’s not too late.

Led by Cleon, the group passes by the fairies walking between the tents and tries to find a fairy to talk to.

＂Over there-＂

The first thing Cleon spoke to were two fairies who were standing next to the tent and talking with glasses in their hands.

On one side is a tall female fairy with red hair wearing a blue dress.

On the other side is a short male fairy with blue hair wearing a red suit.

The passionate gaze felt between the two showed that they were a well-matched romantic relationship.

Cleon’s courage to intervene between the two fairies was courageous, but he also had an intention.

That’s right, the glass in her hand is quite empty, and her face is slightly red.

When a person is drunk, their vigilance becomes blurred and their mouth becomes lighter.

Previously, when he was an adventurer, Cleon learned that if you want to get information from humans, the best strategy is to give them alcohol.

Since he didn’t have to buy alcohol with his own money this time, he probably thought it was less difficult.

“Oh. Oh my.”

Then, the female fairy who heard Cleon speak looked at Cleon and magically lifted the cup in her hand.

Then, he came towards us with light steps, placed his hand on Cleon’s head, and stroked it.

“Look at this, darling, it’s a cute human girl. I guess I came through the Fairy Circle.”

“Oh. Really. Although she’s not as good as you, she’s a lovely girl with sunset-colored hair. ＂

The male fairy called Darling also lifted the glass in her hand into the sky and clapped her hands, praising Cleon’s appearance – no, Sasha’s.

Laila’s body behind her naturally blushed.

“Chi, thank you for the compliment. There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“I know. Are you looking for a way back? Sorry, we can’t open the fairy circle.”

“Okay. The only ones who can open the Fairy Circle are the Fairy Nobles and His Majesty the Fairy King… So it would be a good idea to go towards that big tent, girl.”

The two people who listened to Cleon’s words and passed them on as they pleased told him how to return to the original world.

Of course, that may be important information, but it was never the information Cleon wanted.

“That’s not it… I’m looking for someone. She’s a girl who passed through the entrance to Fairy Village before us… You never know? He wears red and white clothes, and his hair is black…”

At Cleon’s words, the two looked at each other, then shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads.

“Are you saying it’s another human being? Sorry, but you are the first humans we’ve seen here today. Right, darling?”

“Ah. My eyes are always on the beautiful you, but even so, if a rare human-like creature were to appear, I would have looked there without realizing it.”

“Oh my, I’m jealous.”

“Hehe, it’s just a joke, my love…”

＂…＂

Looking at the two fairies doing salting whenever they could, Cleon felt his head hurting.

“Ha… I get it anyway. Humans didn’t see it… Then, while we’re at it, can I ask one more question?”

At Cleon’s words, the fairy couple smiled and nodded, saying, ‘Of course.’

“Because I didn’t get the answer I wanted. I will answer whatever I can as an apology. Cute girl.”

“Okay. Then… Amelia?”

＂Ah, yes!＂

When I called the name of Amelia, who was standing behind me, Amelia, dressed as Cleon, came towards me at a slow pace.

“Bundle…! This is another slim young man…!”

“Wait a minute darling? There’s no need to be on guard. Because I’m not interested in human men.”

“Ah. It was like that… Hehe.”

He was arbitrarily alert, and he was at ease as he pleased… Anyway, Cleon, who had gone behind Amelia’s back as she approached him, lowered the vivre attached to the back of his body.

And then, he appears in front of the fairies again, holding that guy in his arms.

＂Hey, this guy-＂

＂Heeeeek!＂

＂Me, a cursed demon beast!? Why do humans exist like that!?”

The fairy couple who had been leisurely up until now suddenly let out a scream, and perhaps because they were so startled, the magic that had kept the glasses floating was canceled, causing them to fall to the ground.

And, if we step back while embracing each other, Cleon will also look surprised.

“Please, please don’t bring that guy close to us…!”

“What should I do if the curse spreads?”

“Calm down, I don’t plan on doing that. We just… Brought this guy back to his hometown. Do you guys know anything about this magical beast?”

When Cleon said that, the female fairy put the back of her hand to her forehead and sighed, ‘Ahh…’ As if she was about to collapse at any moment.

＂Such… The good intentions of humans, coupled with their ignorance of the world of fairies, are trying to bring about absurd results. What kind of tragedy is this…”

“Calm down, my love… There’s still a chance for them to realize the truth.”

It was not my intention to be treated like someone who brought dangerous goods.

… Is it dangerous because I am cursed?

“I’m sorry, but… There’s nothing we can tell you about that demon beast, humans…”

“Ah. Due to the old Geass, talking about fairies who have lost their identities is forbidden to all but a few fairies.”

“Speaks like a dryad.”

Lila thought she was saying the same thing as what the dryad she had met before when she went to the plains to retrieve the Holy Swordsman’s terminal had said.

But what is different from then is that she is leaving another hint.

“What kind of fairies are there that are said to be exceptions to that taboo?”

＂Among the beings I mentioned earlier who know how to open a passage between Fairy Village and the world of humans through the Fairy Circle… These are the more special ones. The three great nobles of the fairies and the fairy king. Except for them, no one can open their mouths about the cursed fairy.”

It seems that the society of fairies is also very secretive.

Cleon lowers the purring buvre in front of those who responded, then returns it to Amelia’s back.

＂And, if you want to meet those nobles and the king, go to that big tent… Are you lucky? Kings and nobles are all here to see the circus.”

When Cleon said that, the fairies, who had once breathed a sigh of relief that Buvre was gone, tilted their heads.

＂Huh? What does it mean?”

“Kings and nobles have to stay in places like castles where they work, right? Oh… If you’re in a place where the circus tents are, wouldn’t that mean you’ve put aside work for a while and come to see the sights?”

＂Ah…＂

When Cleon said that, the female fairy nodded as if she finally understood.

But she was talking while smiling.

“I’m sorry, but there is no such fairy king anymore.”

＂… What does it mean?＂

In response to Cleon’s question, the fairies turn and point to a large tent in the distance.

“Because that is the ‘castle’ where the king of our fairies lives.”

＂… What?＂

It’s strange.

Previously, she had heard stories about this place from Lesia, who had been to Fairy Village.

After passing through the entrance, they were escorted by fairy knights, passed through a forest of dreams, and were invited to an upside-down castle floating on a huge lake.

A gorgeous palace, with a beautiful exterior that reflects light as if made of glass.

Everything told me that this was not reality, but a world of fairies…

Cleon also expected something like that to some extent.

Now, that circus tent is the fairy king’s castle?

＂What on earth has happened in the last 30 years…＂

“The Fairy King changed about 200 years ago. The ‘rental’ was done. He changed from the previous Fairy King, who was a lake fairy, to the modern Fairy King, who is a festival fairy. Every few hundred years, the Fairy King changes.”

After hearing those words, Cleon and his companions felt as if they had been hit on the head.

＂That’s right! Because the flow of time is different between Fairy Village and the human world… 30 years ago when Lecia visited, it happened 300 years ago here!”

When Lila realizes this and speaks her voice, the fairies smile and nod.

“Lesiara… It’s been a while since I heard that name. He is a historical figure that everyone treats as a legend now.”

“Will she get along well in the human world? News from the human world never flows here…”

＂Actually, Mr. Resia…＂

Sasha tried to answer the two’s questions, but she was soon stopped by Cleon.

And, Cleon whispers softly to Sasha.

“… Lesia is like a symbol of exchange between humans and fairies. She said that Resia was banished to a gap in another dimension by humans… There is no need for her to talk about it now.”

＂Well, that’s right…＂

When Sasha nodded her head at Cleon’s words, the couples looked at the group with strange eyes.

“But you guys… There’s something strange about the way you talk? Should I say it doesn’t fit my body?”

Upon hearing those words, everyone in the group nodded.

“That’s right! You should ask that too! Cleon!”

“… I forgot. It may be the most important thing.”

Cleon nods at Cuon’s words and then asks the party a question.

“Actually… We were put under a spell that changed our bodies and minds by a fairy we met on the way here…”

＂Huh?＂

The two fairies looked surprised after hearing Cleon’s words, but then sighed.

“Then, your destination is really, really, that big tent. If you go there, you will know roughly everything.”

“… Aren’t you going to tell me? Who is the fairy who can cast this kind of magic?”

“It must have been a fairy dressed as a rabbit, carrying a top hat and a wand, right?”

Fairies who speak straight about things about fairies that Cleon didn’t even talk about.

After all, is it a famous person?

When Cleon nodded, they smiled bitterly.

＂It is forbidden for us to talk about her things about her.＂

“Is it banned again? Why are so many things banned?”

Lila finally opened her mouth as if her dissatisfaction had exploded, but the lovers responded.

“Because it is a rule set by the ‘King’ that we fairies must be ignorant.”

“… Why do you do that?”

The two people look at each other and then laugh and talk.

“Well, in order to be pure, knowledge beyond what is necessary is only a hindrance.”

The two people’s answers, which were somewhat creepy, did not seem to indicate any doubt about the king’s decision.

Just follow that decision.

As if he really wants to be a pure being.

With those words, the group leaves the place.

“… If I want to get a proper answer to this, I think I’ll have to find a noble or a king.”

“I know. In that case, what you should head for is that big tent… I mean, it’s a castle, right?”

When Kuon turned his head, a large tent was shining brighter than the other tents around it, and noisy noises could be heard from afar.

“Let’s go, whatever is waiting there. I think the answer must be found there.”

Cleon said this to his companions and began to move once again.